Flush valve guide arm



NOV. 17, 1931. LE TARTE 1,832,714

FLUSH VALVE GUIDE ARM Filed Dec. 6, 1930 INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER 1". LE TAR'IE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T CREST MANUFACTURING CO.. INCORPORATED, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FLUSH VALVE GUIDE ARM Application filed December 6, 1930. Serial no. 500,637.

This invention relates to plumbing fixtures, and more particularly to float valves and the like as used in flush tanks and similar vessels, as for instance for opening and clos ing the outflow openings from the flush tanks to the closet bowls.

Flush tanks as used in connection with water closets and the like usually have an overflow pipe within the tank, the overflow pipe usually being employed as a support for the float valve by equipping the overflow pipe with a guide arm to support and guidethe float valve stem in its opening and closing movements. t is essential that the float v valve rod shall be enabled to move up and ability whereby the same may be used with different types or sizes of flush tanks, the guide arm being capable of adjustment so that the valve stem perforation of the guide arm may be positioned in exact alignment with the centre of the outflow fitting regardless of the distance of thefitting from the overflow pipe, thus insuring exact register of the valve with its seat when the valve closes.

To this end the guide arm may be con overflow tube, a revolvable block being mounted within the annular portion, and this revolvable block having an eccentrically located tube engaging portion, whereby revolution of the block within the annular portion will cause the valve stem perforation to approach or recede from the overflow tube, and hence increasing or decreasing the ef fective length of the guide arm to obtain proper registry of the valve stem perforation with the center of the outflow fitting. To this end, the guide arm may desirably include an annular portion adapted to surround, the overflow tube, a revolvable block being mounted within the annular portion, and this revolvable block having an eccentrically located tube engaging portion, whereby revolution of the block within the annular portion will cause the valve stem perforation to approach or recede from the overflow tube, and hence increasing or decreasing the effective length of the guide arm to obtain proper registry of the valve stem perforation with the center of the outflow fitting. Thus the valve can be centered with various sizes of outflow fittings regardless of the size of the valve seat or its distance from the overflow tube. Also, the revolvable blocks may be of different character so as to accommodate the guide arm to different sizes of overflow pipes by inserting in the annular portion a block suited to the size or other characteristics of the overflow tube. The guide arm is thus also rendered capable of interchangeable use with different sizes of flush valves; and the guide arm can be attached to practically style of overflow tube, whether straight or with a flared top, without removing the overflow pipe from the valve, which is a great convenience and time saver, since it is made possible to install a new valve and guide arm, when necessary, economically and conveniently without disturbing the outflow fitting.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will be hereinafter specifically pointed out, or will become apparent, the specification proceedslVith the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings which latter show embodiments of the invention as at present preferred.

In the accompanying drmvings, forming part of the present specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an overflow tube and flush tank valve showing the guide arm in one position oi adjustment;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the guide arm in another position of adjustment Figure 4 is a perspective view of the guide arm; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the revolvable block.

In the present preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings the device is shown in connection with a more or less con ventional type of outflow lit-ting 10 as used with a water closet flush tank, which later is not illustrated since the same is well understood in the art.

This outflow fitting 10 includes a seat ll for the usual float valve 12, this float valve having an upwardly extending rod or stem 13. An overflow tube lal: also forms part of the outflow fitting 10. this overliow tube having communication with the outflow opening 15 of the outflow fitting when the valve 12 is oil its seat 1].

To support the valve stem 13 in a vertical position, and in the exact center of the valve seat 11, I provide, in this instance, guide arm 16 having aperforated portion 1'? to receive the stem 13, and an annular portion 18 to surround the overflow tube M. This annular portion 18, it will be seen is of larger internal diameter than the external. diameter of the overflow tube, so that the annular portion is spaced from the overflow tube; and a spacing block 19 is adapted to be positioned within the annular member, this spacing block having an eccentrically located yoke portion including arms 20 and 21 which yoke portion is adapted to embrace the overflow tube while a portion of the overflow tube between the arms 20 and 21 adapted to be engaged by the inner side of the annular member 18. The arm 16 is adapted to be rigidly secured in adjusted position by means of a thumb screw which extends through the body portion Oil the block 19, the inner end of the thumb screw being adapted to engage the overflow tube 14 and thus securely hold the arm 16 in the desired position of adjustment.

The annular member 18 is preferably split transversely through the major part of its circumference to produce an annular slot 23 in which latter the outer portion of the thumb screw is slidable as the block 19 is revolved This also enwithin the annular member. ables the block and annular member to maintained in assembled relationship. i l-idditional means are, however, desirably provided to support and guide the block 19 wi h in the annular member 18, and for this purpose the upper ring portion 2a of the annular member is preferably provided with r plurality of slots 2? adapted to tions 26 on the block 19 when the llOtle put in place. The projections 5.26 rest on the lower ring 27 and thus the bleolt is prevent from falling out of annular member and is made to revolve true atall times.

In the use oi. the device. a bl ch 19 having a yoke opening 28 of proper size to embrace the overflow tube It is slipped in place troin th side of the tube ie after the annular member has been placed over the overflow tube. The thumb screw then insertec through the annular slot 23 and into the hlocl: ti). and screwed home into engagenient 'th the tube, the blocl: 19 having been hrs-c revolved to shorten or lengthen the distance between the overflow tube and the perforated portion 17 of the guidc'arin, to properly center the :tem 13 with the valve seat 11. ll will be s en that the annular member l8 can be r l slipped over the top of the overliou Llll)! whether the latter it or h 2 a flared top; and thereby is not necessary to remove the tube 13 from the outflow fitting 10 when making the installation.

The block 19 can be Formed in a dc lied shape so long as the same meets the rerpurement of an eccentrica y located yoke portion which is movable within the annular member so as to increase or decrease the distanw be tween the tube and the annular m mber in tlu: longitudinal plane of the arm 16.

Considerable particularit es of desti ption. as to materials, part details, dimensions. capacities and utilities may have been herein indulged in. but will be midr-rstoo l that these statementsv made *ith particular r tc-reuce to that one and the one now preferred. of the many poss ble embodiments of the. invention which is illustrated in the drawings. are not in any way to be taken as definitive P the invention. Inasmuch as or limitative or many changes could be made in the above constructions and many apparently widely diilerent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter con.- tained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall b interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7

It is also to be understood that the la 'L'.a) 'e contained in the tollowing claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific tortures of the invent-ion herein dos ribcd. and all statements oil the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

In other words, the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the appended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an outflow fitting for flush tanks and the like including an overflow pipe, a valve seat and a valve positioned on said seat, said valve having a stem, of an adjustable guide arm for said valve stem, said guide arm including a portion surrounding said overflow pipe and a portion to receive and guide said valve stem, and a block cooperative with said annular member, said block including a portion engaging said overflow pipe, said block being movable within the overflow-pipe surrounding portion of said guide arm to increase and decrease the distance between the valve stem supporting portion of said guide arm and said overflow pipe, and means to secure said guide arm and spacing block in adjusted position upon said overflow pipe.

2. The combination with an outflow fitting for flush tanks and the like including an overflow pipe, a valve seat and a valve positioned on said seat, said valve having a stem, of an adjustable guide arm for said valve stem, said guide arm including a portion surrounding said overflow pipe and of larger diameter than said overflow pipe, and a portion to receive and guide said valve stem, and a spacing block cooperative with said annular memher, said spacing block including an eccentric yoke portion having arms to embrace said overflow pipe, said spacing block being revolvable within said annular portion to in crease and decrease the distance between the valve stem supporting portion of said guide arm and said overflow pipe, and a thumb screw extending through the overflow pipe surrounding portion of said guide arm, through said spacing block and into engagement with said overflow pipe to secure said guide arm and spacing block in adjusted position.

3. The combination with an outflow fitting for flush tanks and the like including an overflow pipe, a valve seat and a valve positioned on said seat, said valve having a stem, of an adjustable guide arm for said valve stem, said guide arm including an annular port-ion surrounding said overflow pipe and of larger diameter than said overflow pipe, and an apertured portion to receive and guide said valve stem, and a spacing block cooperative with said annular member, said spacing block including an eccentric yoke portion having arms to embrace said overflow pipe, said annular portion being split transversely to form a pair of upper and lower ring members integral with said guide arm, said spacing block being revolvable within said annular portion to increase and decrease the distance between the valve stem supporting portion of said guide arm and said overflow pipe, and means to secure said guide arm and spacing block in adjusted position upon said overflow pipe. 7

4:. The combination with an outflow fitting for flush tanks and the like including an overflow pipe, a valve seat and a valve positioned on said seat, said valve having a stem, of an adjustable guide arm for said valve stem, said guide arm including an annular portion surrounding said overflow pipe and of larger diameter than said overflow pipe, and an apertured portion to receive and guide said valve stem, and a spacing block cooperative with said annular member, said spacing block including an eccentric yoke portion having arms to embrace said overflow pipe, said annular portion being split transversely to form a pair of upper and lower ring members integral with said guide arm, said spacing block being revolvable within said annular portion to increase and decrease the distance between the valve stem supporting portion of said guide arm and said overflow pipe, and a thumb screw extending between said upper and lower ring members, through said spacing block and into engagement with said overflow pipe to secure said guide arm and spacing block in adjusted position.

5. The combination with an outflow fitting for flush tanks and the like including an overflow pipe, a valve seat and a valve positioned on said seat, said valve having a stem, of an adjustable guide arm for said valve stem, said guide arm including an annular portion surrounding said overflow pipe and of larger diameter than said overflow pipe, and an apertured portion to receive and guide said valve stem, and a spacing block cooperative with said annular member, said spacing block including an eccentric yoke portion having arms to embrace said overflow pipe, said an nular portion being split transversely to form a pair of upper and lower ring members integral with said guide arm, the upper ring member having a plurality of slots along its inner circumference, said spacing block having a plurality of projections to enter said slots and to rest upon the lower rin member, said spacing block being revolvable within said annular portion to increase and decrease the distance between. the valve stem supporting portion of said guide arm and said overflow pipe, and means to secure said guide arm and spacing block in adjusted position upon said overflow pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER T. LE TARTE. 

